When Life seems to turn upside down...

... smile with teeth and it will never look like a frown!

A naked Llama, big mamajama aubergines and a whole lot of love kept me smiling today.

Wrong Side of a Love Song

If you follow me on Tumblr, you'd have seen my new video post =).

I'm trying to have fun with my singing. It used to be my favourite thing to do, and I guess, that's because I was doing it all the time. Every weekend for most of my childhood. And then, I grew older and somehow allowed others to get to me. I suddenly cared about what everyone thought about me on stage. I lost my confidence and then for years and years, it wasn't fun anymore. Well, that's changed. I'm having fun again =) Even if it's just in my living room. 

xLoveSong

Home Sweet Home

4 weekends ago, I moved into my own place. I'm still getting used to the quietness I'm greeted by every morning; not hearing my parents have a laugh (or a bicker) on a Sunday morning, not being called down for breakfast, not being shouted at because my alarm is going on for like forever. But everyday, it feels more and more like home: My home =).  If there's one thing I've learnt over the past few years - it's not possible to love anyone else if you're not able to put yourself first, and learn to love you. So this year, the focus is on Me. That way, my loved ones can have the best version of me.

xRachelJoy

Danke Berlin....

… for giving us a memorable City weekend! Our 2012 getaway – Barcelona. 2013, brought us to Berlin. Two very different cities. Extreme opposites – the weather, the tourism, the history, the buildings, the culture.. everything! But Berlin gave us nothing short of an amazing holiday. It’s a great city. It’s not glamorous, no. But it’s full of personality, history – it’s like having hundreds of paintings on a gigantic canvas and you could just stare at it trying to figure out interpretations of whatever you wish. If you ever visit Berlin, do your research because there isn’t really a certain area where it’s all going down. I like to enjoy a city the way it’s locals would, and Berlin forces you to do that.

Thank you to my wonderful Sis and Holly. I have yet to experience a dull moment with you both. Laughter = Us. Ich Liebe Dich girlies! Berlin, Ich werde dich vermissen (‘Berlin, I will miss you’ – according to Google Translate =P..)

Photos of our adventures… here. <3

xFreschen Milken

My Gable-end Roof.

I’d been sitting on the thought for ages, and when I say ‘ages’, I literally mean years. Something always got in the way or gave me the opportunity to make an excuse for an excuse to not go ahead with what I really wanted. Or maybe, I just wasn’t ready to fly the nest yet.

Anyway, I woke up one morning, and decided “2013 is the year. I’m going to do it!”. That day I dreamt of moving into a home with the architectural style of the Renaissance. Tall building, geometrically symmetric, large windows, gable-end roof… crow-stepped gable! Basically, like a Dutch looking building. I’ve never really been a “City” girl, though I love cities, so I also wanted it to be located near a park of some sort with a river nearby where I could hear ducks and birds singing (lol that sounds so fluffly). I found a picture, printed it off and just propped it by my bed that night…. Four weeks later, I’ve now moved into a studio apartment, and I am in love with it. I’ve not completely settled in yet, but I love it!

I spent 7 days looking for my new home. Those 7 days, I’d wake up every morning, and go to sleep every night visualising and feeling the reality of being in my new home. On the 7th day, I viewed the studio. On the 10th, I put down a deposit, and then on the third week, I moved in. It wasn’t until I actually put down the deposit that I realised the similarities the building of the studio had to the picture of the building I had printed off. Tall symmetric building, gable-end roof (not crow stepped but I can live with that J..), large window that let’s light in perfectly! I’d pictured my dream into a reality. And! The first morning I woke up in my new humble abode.. I could hear ducks….and birds singing! Exactly what I wanted. Turns out the town I have moved to is located on a river. How fun! Now, all I need is a white bicycle with a basket, and a local bakery I can ride to every morning. lol (if you know me well, that, you know I won’t be doing!).

2013: SMART

Old or new, we choose to wear the shoes we walk in. Whether we choose to make the most of them and get comfortable in them no matter how many "wears" that might be, or, put them away in our shoe closet simply because we can't stomach the blisters on our feet after just a couple of wears - it's up to us; our choice. (Yes, this post is long. If you can't be bothered to read it, skip to the last paragraph, or don't. Or if you do, maybe read the next one then skip to it lol please don't).

Like many other challenges, I find that New Year's Resolutions are just like that. We have great intentions when we get acquainted with the ideas and goals we want to set, but very often, we give up and put those goals away, somewhere in our inner closets. With myself, I feel that's why I gave up with setting 'resolutions' because in my opinion (not now of course - that would make this post pointless) they became excuses to giving up. Don't get me wrong, I did set myself goals most years, but they were more general ones. Ones that didn't really need to be assessed.

This year, as a 'carry-forward' from an eventful 2012, I am bursting to make sure I expand my personal horizons, no matter how big or little they might be - I am at a point where I am motivated to finally stop procrastinating (I'm pretty sure I've said that before, but this time I really mean it! Promise. I will prove it in time lol. Ironic) and start doing the things I love to do. 

I'm sure some genius in this Universe has scientifically proven (not just stated) that Happiness makes us the Better versions of Ourselves, and in return we are better not only for ourselves but for everyone we love, and BOOM! the world is a better place (even if only in my vicinity which isn't large because I'm 5 foot nothing... or am I?.. *did you hear my tone of voice?*). THAT'S WHAT I WANT. To be the best version of ME that I can be for everyone I love and care for. A person cannot do that unless they have found happiness within them (haha, I make myself sound like I'm so not happy. I am! I promise!). 

In Short - It's time to look after myself, and do the things I love to do. For some reason, I've always held back. (Everything I said before this - is relevant! I could go on, but I don't want to bore you. 'You' -- assuming someone is actually reading this)

I'm serious about this =D. With the help of Sis, together we will make sure our goals and achievements are worked towards and are SMART. We have set our "resolutions" and have applied them to being 'SMART'. How cute is this -- we're going to assess accordingly with 'Time' and assess more specifically on a Quarterly basis - boardroom type meetings, except in cute coffee shops like Ozone in Shoreditch (CUTE! For those of you who think we're sad... I put my hand in your face. Lol)

Most bloggers, I've seen, list their goals and resolutions. I'm not going to do that (not just yet anyway). I read somewhere, with regards to what we want "Keep it private. You do not need to share this with others; manifesting works best when you keep it private". I guess it refers to external noise, such as negativity and lack of faith in what you want - I totally get this. But no worries, throughout the year, my achievements will be shared with you. In more ways than one. I will keep this blog updated. The resolutions might not be shared entirely, but the outcomes will be. :)

This year, I wear the same shoes I wore last year, except this time, I am and will always find comfort in them, and further more we will be walking more paths than ever (If Sis gets her way with me, that would also be literally speaking. She asked that 'We' do more exercise this year. In dismay I told her to suck it. Lol.)

Good Luck to Me, Sis and Everyone in this whole wide Universe who have set personal goals. 2013 is magical. I'm psychic and know this.

x'Hyper at 1am on a School night' Racheljoy-ful